Limerick band recovers from near extinction and is now set to star in USA event

MEMBERS of the City of Limerick Pipe Band have launched a novel fundraising drive as they gear up to represent the Treaty City in the USA this St Patrick’s Day.

The band, which practices on Tuesday and Thursday nights in Our Lady Queen of Peace School at Janesboro, came very close to extinction last year.

But following a huge effort from its committee to tackle governance issues, the music went on.

And now with the band marking its 75th anniversary this year, they have been invited to another celebration which is marking a landmark birthday.

The group will jet off to Savannah in the American state of Georgia to play in the 200th edition of the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade.

The event is co-organised by Marty Hogan, who can trace his roots back to Mary Street in the city centre.

Already €18,500 of the €30,000 needed has been secured, thanks to fundraising, money from a special stream administered by councillors, and sponsorship.

Now, in a bid to get the band across the line, they are hoping to sell advertising to give any company an exposure to an event which features more than 350 marching bands and 15,000 participants.

Chairman Brian Tute said: “It’s a great opportunity for some of the newer members of the band because the band has gone through serious transformation in the last 12 months. We’ve gone to great lengths to get in new members, to bring back old members and consolidate all the very hard work gone into this band.”

The invite to Savannah was sparked last year when local councillor Sarah Kiely, who was in attendance Stateside, was asked by the organisers if they could recommend a Limerick band to take part in the 2024 parade.

With both the band and the parade marking anniversaries, the choice was obvious to her.

The City of Limerick Pipe Band is one of the only senior groups of its kind left on Shannonside.

In the past, there would have been 10 bands focused on playing bagpipes and drums.

It was founded back in 1949 by Michael Kiely and Sean Kiely, relatives of Cllr Sarah Kiely.

The Fine Gael councillor’s father Michael said: “They had no uniform back in the day. They borrowed from St Joseph’s Boy Scouts who had a band which was more or less defunct. They never returned the gear as they couldn’t find anyone to take it back!”

Now drawing in members of all ages from across the city, the group are regulars in Limerick’s St Patrick’s Day parade, and the International Band Championship - both of which they will miss this year due to their American commitments.

Chairman Brian said saving the band from extinction was vital, adding: “If we go, the pipe bands are gone in Limerick. Thank God, we seem to be winning, but it is a constant struggle.”

READ MORE: In Pictures: Fluffy fun as University of Limerick host children at Teddy Bear Hospital

It was a drop in members following the Covid-19 pandemic, and some issues with the old administration of the band which almost did for it.

The rebuild he said was difficult.

“We had to show the band had changed. We had a different face, a different attitude and policy which welcomes anybody and everybody,” said Brian.

“This time last year, we had nothing. We inherited nothing. From a standing start, we’ve 11 new uniforms and a trip to Savannah on the cards,” he smiled.

Cllr Kiely hopes some of the bigger companies across Limerick could come on board and get the band beyond its €30,000 target.

“We’d be looking to some of the big corporates. Any of the ones in the Castletroy Technology Park, or Raheen. It’d be good corporate social responsibility. Something a bit different, rather than just sport all the time, to back a band like this,” she said.

“We are seen as a sporting city, but we are also a musical city. We have a huge history when it comes to bands.”

For more information and to donate to the campaign, please visit https://gofund.me/6beb78c32.

Or telephone Brian at 087-7841320.

New members are also very welcome to join the group, and are asked to contact the same number.